124 
Birds and Flowers. 
I fear that the instinct of concealing mischief 
is very strong in some animals. I have a cat, 
whom we always expect has been naughty if she 
looks exceedingly good. She was found one day 
sitting on the hearth-rug, with her feet tucked 
under her, and her tail twirled round them, 
looking the picture of meekness ; but behind her, 
at the other side of the hearth-rug, lay a large 
piece of meat, which Mrs. Puss had just stolen 
when she heard steps approaching, and of which 
she now knew nothing. 
To return to the Doves, however; there hap- 
pened to be a dairy visible from the windows of 
Tottum’s residence, and one day Tottum was 
absent from home for some time, which caused 
great uneasiness. His mistress, however, at last 
spied out the truant amongst the feathered crea- 
tures who flocked around the farm, and going at 
once in quest of him, the moment Tottum spied 
her, he flew down directly and went home quite 
happily. 
Perhaps Tottum was anxious about being home 
to dinner— for his character for punctuality in that 
respect stood high, and as two o’clock struck he 
was apt to step on to the table. 
A pair of Doves generally bring up one or two 
